Busy doing task after task, but feeling tired and a little unloved and under appreciated? You need to reward yourself a little (or a lot!)? Here are 32 brilliant ideas to get you started…
They’re sure to give you some extra motivation get things done, and will definitely help you remember to celebrate what you’ve achieved (something that can all too easily slip by if we aren’t careful).
Have you ever watched Mary Poppins?
It has long been a favourite in my house, and my daughter has watched it a LOT over the years.
The last time it was on, I found myself singing that oh so familiar tune ” a spoonful of sugar” – and the first line made me stop and think….
In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun, you find the fun and SNAP that job’s a game!
It’s not just the children in this film that this applies to….
If we can make any task more enjoyable then we tend to do it more quickly.
Now, making some household tasks fun is a stretch to say the least – but what if we could reward ourself at the end of the task?
Would that help make things a little more do-able?
I think so!
Related: How To Make Decluttering Fun – Yes, Really!
As such, today I wanted to look at all the different ways you could pick to reward yourself for any job well done.
Whether you’re decluttering a drawer, organising your whole house, sorting out a cleaning schedule, or starting a new habit – having a reward to look forward to at the end will no doubt drive you on and spur you to get things done that little bit more quickly.
After all – we all deserve a pat on the back for a job well done every so often, and homemaking tasks can feel like thankless work a lot of the time….
So, my challenge for you today is to pick a treat for yourself the next time you have a task to do that you aren’t looking forward to – and reward yourself for a job well done.
When should you reward yourself?
Honestly – this is something that we all need to do more.
We tend to forget about the successes we have – however small – and focus on the negative stuff instead, and that’s draining to say the least.
So – I would always say that rewards can be created for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!
Even a quick internal ‘high five’ can be enough – it really doesn’t have to be big rewards to make all the difference.
6 Tips for picking a Self reward – how to reward yourself Properly!
#1 – Don’t pick a reward that negates what you’ve just achieved. For example, if you’ve decluttered, don’t buy stuff as a reward. If you’ve sorted out a great morning routine – don’t reward by having a lie in. If you’ve reached a goal weight loss – have non food rewards and don’t use food or alcohol as your treat.
#2 – Pick a relevant reward that is something to do with what you’ve just done – to reinforce your good work. For example, you’ve finally sorted your bedroom and organised it all – so treat yourself to an early night and enjoy the room a little!
#3 – Pick something that truly motivates you to get the job done. If you can look forward to something then it drives you to get the job finished that much quicker, and can be a really good positive reinforcement to get things finished that you set out to do.
#4 – Make the reward something easy to achieve quickly – for example, don’t reward with a holiday if it’s going to take you a year to save up…
#5 – Reward yourself with a treat that’s on the same level as the task. Small rewards for small tasks, and large for large ones.
#6 – Remember, rewards don’t have to cost anything – you can get pleasure out of the most simple things if you allow yourself to really enjoy them.
32 Ideas for ways to reward yourself
1 – Enjoy a magazine and a coffee in peace and quiet for half an hour
2 – Relax with a lazy lie in
3 – Run a hot bath with a good book and a relaxing bath foam / candle
4 – Take a break. A holiday / day out etc… or simply some time away from everyday life
5 – Book a meal out at your favourite restaurant
6 – Savour a nice glass of wine
7 – Listen to a favourite music album
8 – Watch a film (either at home, or maybe go to the cinema in the middle of the day – this is something I’ve yet to do, but sounds really indulgent, doesn’t it!)
9 – Watch a TV programme you’ve been meaning to watch for ages (or indulge in an entire box set!)
10 – Go for a long walk (you could add in another treat and listen to an audiobook while walking – I love doing this, and treat myself to a book I’ve been wanting to read for a while so I can get lost in it for a bit)
11 – Go to a concert or the theatre
12 – Do a workout. Why not try a new exercise class, or spend some time at home doing fitness you enjoy. This is something that we can let slip because time is short, but it’s so important and so it’s a great reward because it helps you to allow yourself that time. If you like exercising and do it often already – then why not make your treat new workout clothes or equipment.
13 – Start a new hobby that you’ve always wanted to do
14 – Take up a new sport
15 – Sign up for a night class – something you’ve always wanted to learn, like a new language, or a new skill.
16 – Organise an evening out with friends
17 – Delegate a task – a cleaner could be just what you need now you are back in control of things – work out what’s important for you to do and what your time is worth.
18 – Visit an exhibition / museum / gallery etc…
19 – Treat yourself to your favourite cake / chocolate etc…
20 – Go to a coffee shop and relax for a while with your favourite drink
21 – Get a takeaway and take the night off cooking
22 – Take a day off work just because!
23 – Spend time with a friend
24 – Have a beauty treatment. Maybe you could get a massage, or a facial etc…
25 – Visit a spa / sauna etc…
26 – Have your nails done
27 – Read a book (or listen to an audiobook – one of my favourite ways to unwind as I can walk as well). We all too often let reading slip as we get busier over time – so this can feel amazing to do.
28 – Have a child free day/afternoon to do whatever you want
29 – Have an early night
30 – Get flowers / a plant for your home
31 – Light a nice candle
32 – Have a picnic in your local park
The list really is endless, and it all depends on you as a person as to what makes you happy and excited at the thought of it…
Ways to reward yourself AND Help in the future too…
Yes, getting immediate reward satisfaction is fantastic, but it’s always good to do something that feels rewarding for the long term too, right? (Makes the effort REALLY worth it!)
So, when it comes to giving yourself a treat for getting tasks done or reaching a goal at home, why not make your reward something that makes life easier in the future?
Whether you declutter your TO DO list so you have less to, well, do! – have a declutter of your home so you have less to clean and maintain, or (this is my favourite) take a day off to get ahead of things again so you can have a bit of peace in your head – the list of ways to help yourself is huge!
So – has this list inspired you to reward yourself and enjoy a few more treats in your life going forward?
I know I am.
And I’m not going to feel guilty for it either!
Remember – it doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming.
Even the smallest treat will help you feel more content and motivate you to get things done, and that sounds good to me.
I’d love to know what would be your favourite reward – so make sure to leave a comment below and let’s chat!
….but for now, I’m off to run myself a nice hot bath!
After all – I’ve just finished writing this post so I think a treat is most definitely in order ;o) …
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